Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens will be decked with illuminated glass installations, enchanting LED lights and thousands of festive flowers for the Winter Flower Show and Winter Light Garden, opening Friday and running through Jan. 12.

It features the work of artists Matthew McCormack and Jenn Figg and will showcase a colorful variety of glass mushrooms, ferns, bromeliads and tillandsia while a network of constellations transforms the ceiling overhead with stars twinkling and fading. Poinsettias, amaryllis, paperwhites and other favorites will also be incorporated into many of the garden scenes.

The outdoor Winter Light Garden returns with glowing orbs, “dripping” icicles, luminous trees and a fountain of light, and the Garden Railroad takes spectators on an adventure through Phipps Prehistoric Park, complete with dinosaurs.

An exhibition of landscape and still-life watercolor paintings by artist Michael M. Strueber will also be on view in the Welcome Center during the run of Winter Flower Show and can be purchased through the gift shop. More details can be found at phipps.conservatory.org.

Hours for Winter Flower Show are 9:30 a.m.-11 p.m. and 5-11 p.m. for Winter Light Garden. Phipps closes at 5 p.m. on Dec. 24 and reopens at 9:30 a.m. on Dec. 26. Admission is $15 for adults, $14 for seniors and students, and $11 for children (ages two-18). Members and kids under 2 enter free.

Scrooges abound

Pittsburgh CLO’s “A Musical Christmas Carol” is in good hands once again with the venerable Tom Atkins assuming the role of Scrooge in the 22nd annual production of the holiday classic. It runs Dec. 6-22 at the Byham Theater, Downtown.

Little Lake Theatre in North Strabane puts a twist on Dickens with Christopher Durang’s “Mrs. Bob Cratchit’s Wild Christmas Binge,” a rollicking parody designed to get you laughing. It runs through Dec. 14.

For something completely different, Pittsburgh Public Theater welcomes The Second City — the company that launched the careers of Tina Fey, Stephen Colbert, Steve Carell and more — in “The Nut-Cracking Holiday Revue,” a seasonal blend of songs, scenes and improvisation. It runs Dec. 12-14 at the O’Reilly Theater, Downtown.

Palace of carols

The Palace Theatre in Greensburg is going wild with the holiday concerts, and they come in many flavors.

The run of shows begins on Saturday with “Branson on the Road: Christmas,” a country concert in the style of the Grand Ole Opry road shows.

It picks up next weekend with Temptations Christmas & Hits, featuring what’s left of the classic Motown band, on Dec. 5. One night later, Doobie Brother Michael McDonald brings his raspy blue-eyed soul to “This Christmas.” Those shows, of course, will also feature non-holiday selections.

Finally, on Dec. 16, it’s the Kenny G Holiday Show, led by the Pied Piper of crossover jazz-pop.

OGLEBAY WINTER FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS: Oglebay Park, Wheeling, W.Va. Six-mile drive-through with 80 light displays, including the Christmas Tree Farm. This year’s other new displays are Woodpeckers and Leaping Frog, and the Oglebay Village has been expanded. Sun.-Thurs. from dusk-10 p.m.; Fri.-Sat. until 11 p.m., through Jan. 5. Donation requested. 1-800-624-6988; www.oglebay-resort.com,

CARNEGIE SCIENCE CENTER: North Shore. The Miniature Railroad & Village reopens Friday, with the Allegheny County Mortuary as the new addition. Two Omnimax movies spotlighting trains run through Jan. 1: “Rocky Mountain Express” and “The Polar Express: An IMAX Experience.” With Lionel Days, visitors will enjoy museum-quality artifact displays, classic train displays from Lionel’s own collection, and festive train decorations on the grand holiday tree, all on loan from Lionel. Locomotion Weekend, Dec. 14-15, features a rail yard full of guest train displays by local hobbyists. Scheduled activities include an interactive Kid’s Zone with easy-to-use train sets for building. Bring your own model trains for a free checkup at the “Loco Doctor” table, which includes basic repairs, cleaning and oiling. Engineers of all ages will love the operating train layouts and hands-on activities. Breakfast Express features trains, stories, breakfast, “The Polar Express: An IMAX Experience” and guest Mr. McFeely (Dec. 7, 14 and 21, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.). Holiday Magic laser show (daily through Jan. 1). 412-237-3400 or CarnegieScienceCenter.org.

NATIONAL AVIARY: North Side. Photos with Santa and a penguin, Nov. 30, Dec. 7, 14 and 21 at 11 a.m.-3 p.m., free with general admission. www.aviary.org.

NATIONALITY ROOMS: Cathedral of Learning, University of Pittsburgh, Oakland. Rooms are decorated for the holidays through Jan. 17. Narrated tape tours are available Saturdays 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and Sundays 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. $4 adults; $2 kids 6-18. 412-624-6000; In addition, the Nationality Rooms will host a holiday open house from noon until 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8. There is no charge to attend the open house. www.pitt.edu/~natrooms.

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